EasyJet to change cockpit policy after French Alps crash

LONDON: British airline easyJet said on Thursday (Mar 26) it would enforce a new policy for two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times from Friday, after a German airliner crash in the French Alps that killed 150 people.

“EasyJet can confirm that, with effect from tomorrow … it will change its procedure,” the airline said in a statement, after investigators said they believed the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight deliberately crashed the plane.

Similar decisions have been announced by Canada’s Air Transat, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Icelandair but EasyJet is by far the biggest airline to take action.

The low-cost carrier transported nearly 65 million people around Europe over its last financial year and has 8,000 employees. It has a fleet of 200 Airbus planes.

EasyJet’s budget rival Ryanair, which is based in Ireland, already has the same cockpit policy. “Ryanair requires two people to be in the cockpit at all times,” the spokesperson said.

“If a pilot needs to visit the bathroom the cabin crew supervisor is required to stand in the cockpit for these brief periods,” the spokesperson added.